Beam and the like for building construction



Nona-1937. ARAFT 2,098,676

BEAM AND THE LIKE FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Original Filed May 16, 1936 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 9, 1937 Albert Rafter, Glen Ridge, N. J., assignor to Rafter Machine Company, Belleville, N. .11, a partnership composed of Albert Rafter and John C. Rafter, Jr.

Original application May 16, 1936, Serial No.

80,089. Divided and her 4, 1936, Serial No.

3 Claims.

This application is a division of my copending application filed May 16, 1936, Serial #80,089.

This invention relates to improvements in metallic beams, studs and rafters and the like for use in building construction.

It has been found that studs and rafters and the like formed from sheet metal are well adapted for use in building construction in places where wooden rafters have been heretofore used. The rafters obviously are superior to the wooden rafters in that they can withstand greater strains and are fireproof.

It is an object of this invention to provide a beam, stud or rafter formed from sheet metal which is of relatively light weight and of great strength. The rafter is formed from spaced metal plates provided with interlocking means.

A further object is the provision of a beam, stud or rafter for building construction which is made from sheet metal, and so formed that the metal is distributed to points where it is most needed and eliminated at points, such as along the longitudinal center line of the rafter, where it is not essential, thereby enabling a considerable decrease in the weight and cost of the stud or rafter.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, are accomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view in section of a stud or rafter embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view in section of another form of my invention,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a stud or rafter embodying the invention, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing details of interlocking means between sections of the stud or rafter of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. l a building stud or rafter is shown to comprise a pair of metal plates I and 2, each of which is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 3 surrounded by cylindrical inwardly directed flanges 4 and 5, respectively. The flanges 4 on plate I telescope in the flanges 5 on plate 2.

Plate I is bent outwardly at right angles thereto to provide a flange 6. The plate 2 is bent outwardly at right angles thereto to provide a flange l which is bent back upon itself and crimped to provide a plurality of ribs 8 and then bent over and around the flange 6 to interlock the plates l and 2 together, to prevent separation thereof.

this application Decem- 114,150

The ribs 8 also serve as means for properly spacing the plates.

In Fig. 2 is shown a form of the invention in which plates Iii and l l are made in substantially the same manner. Each of the plates is bent outwardly at right angles thereto to provide flanges I2 which are bent back upon themselves, so that the flanges of each plate meet midway between the two plates. The plates are each provided with strengthening ribs H which space the plates and at the same time provide rigidity to the structure.

The free edge of flange l2 of plate II is bent back upon itself and then at right angles thereto to form a portion I3, and then again at right angles to the portion 13 to provide a portion M which is bent back upon itself to provide a portion IS. The free edge of flange l2 of plate i3 is bent over and parallel to the flange I2 and then back upon itself at I6 to provide a portion which opposes the portion l5 of plate I I, thereby providing means for interlocking the two plates together to prevent separation thereof. The plates l 0 and H are provided with telescoping cylindrical flanges heretofore described.

In the above description, inasmuch as the upper edge and lower edge of each of the studs and rafters are of identical construction, only one edge has been described.

From the above description, it will be seen that there has been provided a simple and effective metal stud and rafter of considerable strength for use in building construction. The metal stud and rafter herein described can be well used in places where wooden studs and rafters have heretofore been used, such as in the building of homes, dwellings and the like.

The stud and rafter is of light weight, and is adapted to receive nails and screws in much the same manner as wooden studs and rafters.

The studs and rafters herein disclosed are made of spaced parallel plates, and the structure described which includes the telescoping cylindrical flanges prevents longitudinal and vertical displacement of the plates; and the interlocking means prevents lateral displacement or separation of the plates. The structural members are well adapted for use in dwellings and the provision of a plurality of spaced apertures obviously facilitates the electrical wiring and obviates the necessity of drilling holes as heretofore has been necessary in wooden beams.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of the invention, of which 1. In a structural member for building construction, a pair of spaced plates provided with a plurality of spaced apertures, inwardly directed flanges surrounding said apertures and integral with said plates, the flanges on one plate being positioned within the flanges on the other plate, each of said plates having outwardly directed flanges bent back upon'themselves the free edges of said flanges meeting substantially midway between said plates and provided with interlocking means to prevent separation of the plates, each of said flanges having a downwardly extending strengthening rib.

2. In a structural member for building construction, a pair of spaced plates provided with a plurality of spaced apertures, inwardly directed flanges surrounding said apertures and integral ,to' preventseparation of the plates.

3. In a structural member for building construction, a pair of spaced plates provided with a plurality of spaced apertures, inwardly directed flanges surounding said apertures and integral with said plates, the flanges on one plate being positioned within the flanges on the other plate, each of said plates having outwardly directed flanges bent back upon themselves, the free edge of one flange being bent over and around the free edge of the other flange to provide interlocking means to prevent separation of the plates.

ALBERT RAFTER. 

